Une vieille maîtresse (The Last Mistress)
Sean H.
“Une Vieille Maîtresse” (“an old mistress”) Is an art house French flim based on a novel by Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly. The audience gets a taste of French Aristocracy's tragic & decadent past i.e. love affairs circa 1800, a love that was born from hate, that which blossomed into a decade-long obsession between libertine Ryno de Marigny (Fu’ad Aït Aattou) and his Spanish mistress La Vellini (Asia Argento) The movie might as well have been a menloncholic painting with strong Goyesque overtones; think La Maja Desnuda bleeding/wounded from the afflictions of a love so macabre.
Although colorful & charming, the other characters are mere distractions in this writers humble opinion. Distractions that fail to distract the audience from the inevitable unbridled adultery that ensued. The dialogue is enthralling, it's intent is cruel & it's delivery captivating. Directed by the talented Catherine Breillat, it's clear to see why Une vieille maîtresse was an official selection at le Festival de Cannes 2007.
If like me you derive pleasure from sadistic tales of perilous seduction & intrigue then this movie is a must---
